When you think about Fourth of July, fireworks might be one of the first things to come to mind.

It turns out America's original fireworks celebrations are close to the original Independence Day as well.

Patrick Penfield is a local fireworks expert who works at Syracuse University. He says they were used during our first Independence Day celebration, held in Philadelphia on July 4th, 1777.

The display of colors in the sky was meant to raise spirits in the middle of the fight for freedom against Great Britain.

But fireworks weren't just meant for beauty.

"An alchemist was looking to learn how come up with a way to have eternal life and oddly enough came up with gunpowder. And from there it moved over into all of Europe and into the United States", says Penfield.

Fireworks were first invented in China. 90% of all fireworks are still made there.